Academic Tips to be a Successful Student

Characteristics of a Successful Student!

The following is a list of what a hard-working student does and what a teacher likes
to see.

Successful students ...

attend classes regularly and they are on time. If they miss a class, they feel obligated
to let the professor know before the next class. They get all of the missed notes
and assignments from other students or from the professor.

turn in assignments complete and on time. They take the time to produce a final product
that looks good and reflects care and pride in their work.

are attentive in class. They don’t talk, read, play with their phones, listen to their
i-pod or stare out windows. They ask questions and participate in class discussions.

take advantage of extra credit opportunities. They often do the optional (and often
more challenging) assignments that other students may avoid.

take the initiative to find the instructor and teaching assistant and engage in meaningful
conversation outside of class. They are active participants in the learning process.

study outside of regular class hours to learn and reinforce material covered in lectures
and recitations.

Study Tips

Studying effectively is a process, not an event. The process leads to success!

When studying it is important to make meaningful connections to what you already know.

Just remember there is no point in re-reading something if you have no idea what you
are reading!

Four Ways to Forget

Disuse. Information not periodically used withers and disappears. Do you remember all of
your previous telephone numbers?

Interference. It is easy to confuse materials that are similar and related. When confused, we are
more likely to forget which is which. For example, learning two similar foreign languages
at the same time may present some problems.

Repression. We have very strong systems of belief. Sometimes what we learn doesn't fit with what
we believe. When in conflict, odds are our beliefs will win. Believing that we are
no good at remembering names will make it all that much more difficult to learn new
names.

Not learning it in the first place. This is probably the number one culprit in forgetting. Even if we've been exposed
to something, unless we solidify the learning we are not likely to remember it.

Time Management

Time management is the appropriate use of and structuring of your time in order for
you to maximize your time. If you learn how to maximize your time, you will have ample
time to successfully accomplish everything you need to and want to accomplish.

Use a planner or calendar to keep track of dates, appointments and fixed commitments.
This will help you to see where your free time is!

Write down classes and important commitments first

Schedule your chores: when you will clean, do laundry, food shopping, etc.

Next schedule your study sessions

Last schedule you leisure time!

Review your syllabi for important due dates and make sure to include this in your
planner.

Prioritize your tasks

Plan study time in advance to prevent cramming

Learn to say no to distractions

Say No to Cramming!Say you entered a contest at the local gym and you won the grand prize which included
six hours of training sessions from a personal trainer. You have a choice of taking
six separate training sessions over six weeks or having all six training sessions
in one day? Which would you benefit from the most? Of course you would take the six
training sessions over six weeks because each week you would get stronger and improve.
The same goes for studying! Try to study a little bit each day. It is more effective
than cramming the night before the test.

How to Avoid Procrastination

Here are ways to beat procrastination resulting from an OVERWHELMING task:

Get started on the task right away by taking a small slice at a time.

Use a time slice as small as five minutes and start on the easiest part of the task.
(Often, once you are involved, the momentum builds and procrastination retreats!)

Get more information about the overwhelming task. Speak to others, gather more details.
The more you know, the more the overwhelming task can shrink and get more into perspective.

Start repeating to yourself all the benefits that will come from completing the task.

Describe in graphic terms the worst possible consequences from NOT completing the
task.

Setting a deadline can kill procrastination as the mind gets locked on to the 'mission'
to complete the task in a pre-determined time span.

In planning, write out the steps in advance. As you come towards the end of one step,
you automatically have the next step in mind, making it more difficult to put the
task off through procrastination.

Here are ways to beat procrastination resulting from an UNPLEASANT task:

Deal with the task immediately; just meet it head on.

Repeat to yourself the greater unpleasantness that will result from not carrying out
the task.

Build enthusiasm for the results from the task which will overshadow the unpleasantness
of actually completing the task.

Seriously ask yourself: "What is the price of procrastination in this case and am
I willing to pay it?"

Reason, "If I am going to do this job eventually anyway I might as well do it now
and get it out of the way!"